The smell of the fire was still in the air as people gathered around the much loved landmark to survey the damage.

Many were visibly distressed and some were in tears.

Gog is the larger of a pair of ancient oak trees known as the Oaks of Avalon and steeped in symbolism. The other is called Magog.

The two trees are thought to be part of an avenue leading up to Glastonbury Tor.

It has been suggested the fire may have been started by a candle placed at the base of the tree.

Many of the people who came to see the tree today say they had been visiting regularly since childhood.

Margarete Orr-Rabuse, who lives in Glastonbury, went to see the tree this afternoon after hearing of the fire.

She said: “I feel a special ambience here. This place is close to my heart and seeing it like this is heart-breaking. It makes me so sad to see something which has been around for 2,000 years destroyed by one person.

"People want to celebrate it, but how can you take candles to a tree?”